STATEMENT OF POLICY

Purdue University is committed to providing a safe and secure campus environment for members of the university community. Purdue strives to create an educational environment for students and a work environment for employees that promote educational and career goals. Violent Behavior impedes such goals and is prohibited in or on any University Facility or while participating in any University activity.

Purdue University uses best efforts to protect victims of Violent Behavior by offering reasonable and appropriate security measures. Whenever possible and appropriate, accommodations or adjustments to a victim’s work/class schedule, location or conditions will be made to enhance safety. Individuals who are aware that someone is a victim of Violent Behavior may offer support to the victim through steps such as referring him or her to the Employee Assistance Program, Student Counseling Center or other appropriate resources. The University’s policies will allow for flexibility to attend medical, court or counseling appointments related to trauma and/or victimization from situations covered by this policy.

Retaliation against any employee, student or other member of the University community who, in good faith, reports a violation of this policy is prohibited.

Purdue University employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. An act of off-duty Violent Behavior may also be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination if there is a relevant relationship between the type of Violent Behavior and the potential adverse impact on the employee’s or another employee’s ability to perform his or her assigned duties and responsibilities. Purdue University students who violate this policy on or off University Facilities may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion, as provided in the Regulations Governing Student Conduct. In addition, any person who violates this policy may be subject to the issuance of a persona non grata notification, which limits access to a part of or all of University Facilities, in accordance with the Persona Non Grata (IV.A.5) policy.

REASON FOR THIS POLICY

The University is committed to providing a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Criminal and civil laws prohibit Violent Behavior, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 governs employers’ workplace safety.

This policy describes Violent Behavior, its prevention and response, and University sanctions. It is designed to be implemented on each of Purdue University’s four campuses: Calumet, North Central, Fort Wayne and West Lafayette.

EXCLUSIONS

RESPONSIBILITIES

Make every effort to protect the confidentiality and safety of those who report potential violations of this policy or raise concerns about Violent Behavior.

Employees

Report immediately any Violent Behavior or other violations of this policy to the University Police or the head of Human Resources on their campus (or the head’s designee for such reports).

Human Resources

Promptly investigate allegations that employees have engaged in Violent Behavior or otherwise violated this policy and take action to mitigate risk of harm, including, when necessary, removal of an employee or student from campus or other interim corrective measures of a non-disciplinary nature until the investigation is concluded.

Upon receipt of a report of Violent Behavior, notify the chair of the appropriate Behavioral Assessment Team.

Refer employees and/or students to appropriate resources for coordination of assessments of Violent Behavior in the workplace and/or academic environment.

Promptly notify the Title IX Coordinator of reports of Violent Behavior that may also violate the Anti-Harassment (III.C.1) policy’s definitions of Relationship Violence, Sexual Violence and/or Stalking.

Promptly investigate allegations that students have engaged in Violent Behavior or otherwise violated this policy and take action to mitigate risk of harm, including, when necessary, removal of a student from campus or other interim corrective measures of a non-disciplinary nature until the investigation is concluded.

Promptly notify the Title IX Coordinator of reports of Violent Behavior that may also violate the Anti-Harassment (III.C.1) policy’s definitions of Relationship Violence, Sexual Violence and/or Stalking.

Upon receipt of a report of Violent Behavior, notify the chair of the appropriate Behavioral Assessment Team.

Serve as the chairperson for the West Lafayette campus employee Behavioral Assessment Team or designate responsibility for such.

Dean of Students (West Lafayette)

Serve as the chairperson for the West Lafayette campus student Behavioral Assessment Team or designate responsibility for such.

DEFINITIONS

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Additional defined terms may be found in the central Policy Glossary.

Behavioral Assessment TeamA standing committee of multi-disciplinary experienced representatives who will analyze potentially threatening situations, especially imminent threats to self or others, and take action to mitigate risk. Each campus may assign a specific name to their committee(s), but the purpose, function and membership must adhere to this policy.

The chairperson of each campus’s employee Behavior Assessment Team is as noted in the Responsibilities section and includes representatives from Human Resources, Environmental Health and Public Safety (West Lafayette only), University Police, legal counsel, mental health professional(s) and others as appropriate. The chairperson of each campus’s student Behavior Assessment Team is as noted in the Responsibilities section and includes representatives from the Office of the Dean of Students, University Police, Housing and Food Services (West Lafayette only), legal counsel, mental health professional(s) and others as appropriate.

IntimidationEngaging in actions intended to frighten, coerce or induce duress. These actions include, but are not limited to, unwanted pursuit or stalking, as defined in the policy on Anti-Harassment (III.C.1).

Physical AttackUnwanted physical contact such as hitting, kicking, pushing, shoving, biting, fighting, throwing objects or use of an unauthorized weapon against another person.

Property DamageReckless or intentional damage to property, including property owned by Purdue University or its employees, students, visitors or vendors.

ThreatAn expression of intent to cause physical or mental harm or damage to property. A threat may be direct, indirect, conditional or veiled. Any threat is presumed to constitute a statement of intent. An expression constitutes a threat without regard to whether the party communicating the threat has the present ability to carry it out and without regard to whether the expression is contingent or future.

University Facility(ies)As used in this policy, any building or structure or any improved or unimproved land, or any part of any such building, structure or land, that is owned, used or occupied by Purdue University.

Violent BehaviorA broad range of behaviors that generate reasonable concerns for personal safety, result in physical injury or result in damage to University Facilities. Violent behavior includes, but is not limited to, aggressive or frightening acts, Intimidation, Threats, Physical Attacks or Property Damage.

WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY

HISTORY AND UPDATES

September 29, 2014: Policy converted to new template. Language that was previously contained in the Procedures section has been incorporated into the Statement of Policy and Responsibilities sections as appropriate. The definitions of Intimidation and Property Damage were updated, as were personnel titles and hyperlinks throughout.

November 1, 2012: The definition of Behavioral Assessment Team was revised to allow each campus to assign its own names to the committees.

December 8, 2011: Updates to the Contacts and Responsibilities sections were made. This policy supersedes Violent Behavior, Interim (IV.A.3) dated November 18, 2011.